[Prevention of the zygomatic branch of the facial nerve in rhytidectomy: an anatomical study].

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the anatomical distribution of the zygomatic branch of the facial nerve and discuss its clinical significance in the rhytidectomy.

METHODS

The distribution of the zygomatic branch of the facial nerve was observed on 30 halves of the fifteen candaveric specimens (10 antiseptic cadaveric specimens and 5 fresh cadavers).

RESULTS

The zygomatic branch made its way through the upper or the anterior border of the parotid gland, giving rise to 2 or 3 rami, which could be divided into the superior and the inferior rami. The superior rami, which were thin and superficial, crossed the zygomatic arch at its inner one-third or ran along the inferior margin of the zygomatic arch, and then entered beneath the zygomatic ligaments. The inferior rami were comparatively thick and deep, lying 1.0+/-0.3 cm inferior to the superior rami. The inferior and superior rami joined each other on the surface and deep side of the zygomatic major muscle.

CONCLUSION

In the prevention of the zygomatic branch damage in rhytidectomy, the areas where caution should taken were the anterior border of the zygomatic major muscle in sub-SMAS dissection and the zygomatic arch in the subperiosteal dissection. The sharp dissection and excess tension should be avoided to reduce the nerve injury.